Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt Friday demanded the Los Angeles Times retract and publish an apology related to a report that raised questions about his campaign’s eligibility over residency rules.
Pratt, whose home was burned down in the January 2025 Palisades fire, described the report published Monday as a “hit piece” and an attempt to “sabotage” his campaign. He affirmed the LA City Clerk certified his candidacy for mayor, which should serve as sufficient proof for his mayoral run.
On social media, Pratt posted a letter written by his legal representation, McNulty Law Firm, which criticized the Times article.
“Writing an article to the contrary is reckless and untrue,” attorney Peter McNulty wrote in the letter.
In a statement, the Times said it stood by its reporters and story.
“The Times previously reported that Mr. Pratt was recently living in Carpinteria, which has raised questions about his eligibility. We stand by our story and today published a follow-up report to shed more light on the matter,” the Times statement read.
Pratt, a reality television star, still demanded a retraction and apology by 9 a.m. Monday.
Earlier in the week, the Times published a report written by city hall reporter Noah Goldberg and veteran reporter Richard Winton, who explored questions about Pratt’s residency.
Pratt had been living in Santa Barbara County after his home was burned down by the Palisades fire. All candidates running for elected office must be registered to vote in L.A. and be residents of the city.
Under a state policy enacted following the January 2025 fires, voters who were displaced can use their prior addresses as their permanent residence, but they must intend to return home in the future. The rule also applies to candidates running for office, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office.
The article also referenced former City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who was charged in 2012 and convicted of perjury and voter fraud for representing a council district he did not live in. Alarcon had argued in court that he was renovating his in-district home.
Alarcon’s conviction was eventually overturned by an appeals court in 2016.
Pratt accused Goldberg and Winton of “willfully and maliciously” publishing false information about the effect of his temporary, post-fire relocation.
“It is impossible to believe that two veteran reporters were unable to research the domicile rules for a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, but still felt it was appropriate to compare Mr. Pratt’s tragic circumstances as a Palisades fire victim to the criminal case against former Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon.
On Friday, the Times published a subsequent report related to Pratt’s residency eligibility.
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Zev Yaroslavsky — who is a former Los Angeles County supervisor and City Council member — told the Times he does not think Pratt’s residency is “going to be electorally consequential.”
“He’s a victim of the Palisades fire that doesn’t have a home to live in because it burned down,” Yaroslavsky told the Times.
Pratt is among 14 candidates running for mayor.
A recent poll published by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs found that voters in LA remained largely undecided in the mayor’s race, with 40% still weighing their options ahead of the June 2 primary.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass led the field with 25% support, followed by Pratt at 11%, and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman at 9%. The poll also showed housing advocate Rae Chen Huang and nonprofit executive Adam Miller each drew 3%.
Pratt is a vocal critic of Bass, who announced his candidacy on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades fire. He has pledged to rebuild his community, and address what he described as corruption and abuse of taxpayer dollars, among other priorities.